Stability of Created Nano-Holes from Electrodeposited Organic SAMs (Thiols) on Gold Polycrystalline Films

Self-assembled monolayers CH3(CH2)n-1SH with different chain lengths have been elaborated by electrodeposition on gold films. Enhanced blocking properties were obtained by sweeping the potential between oxidative and reductive regions. Once complete and almost defects free layers were obtained, partial reduction was found to lead to the creation of almost circular nanosized holes in the SAMs; which can be used as nanoelectrodes. As verified by the EIS analysis of the charge and the mass transfer through the electrodeposited layers, the stability of the system permeability was found deeply depending on the chain length.